“Gary Neville Slams ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta After Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Defeat to Arsenal”

Gary Neville has sharply criticized Lucas Paqueta following a costly mistake during West Ham United’s 5-2 loss to Arsenal. The Brazilian midfielder gave away a penalty in the first half, with the Gunners already leading 2-0. Paqueta was adjudged to have caught Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka in the penalty area, leading the referee to point to the spot without hesitation.

Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment, branding Paqueta as “lazy” for the foul that allowed Arsenal to extend their lead. The former Manchester United defender emphasized the lack of urgency and defensive awareness shown by Paqueta in the moment, highlighting the costly nature of the mistake in a match that saw West Ham struggle to recover.

“Gary Neville Blasts ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta for Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Loss to Arsenal”

Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lucas Paqueta after the midfielder’s costly error in West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal. Paqueta gave away a penalty in the 34th minute when he fouled Bukayo Saka in the penalty area, with the Gunners already leading 2-0. Martin Ødegaard calmly dispatched the penalty, putting Arsenal 3-0 up just before the break.

Neville, speaking live on Sky Sports, was scathing in his assessment of the 27-year-old Brazilian. He described Paqueta’s challenge as a “lazy waft,” suggesting that the midfielder lacked the necessary quickness and awareness to avoid the foul. “He’s never really going to be able to shift his feet quick enough,” Neville remarked, pointing out the poorly-timed tackle that gave Arsenal the opportunity to extend their lead and effectively sealed the game for West Ham.

“Gary Neville Slams ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta for Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Loss to Arsenal”

Gary Neville didn’t mince his words when criticizing Lucas Paqueta after the Brazilian midfielder gave away a penalty in West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal. Paqueta’s poorly-timed challenge on Bukayo Saka in the 34th minute handed Arsenal a penalty, with Martin Ødegaard converting to put the Gunners 3-0 up.

Speaking live on Sky Sports, Neville was scathing in his assessment of Paqueta’s actions. He described the challenge as a “lazy waft,” emphasizing that the 27-year-old’s lack of quickness and awareness cost his team dearly. “He’s never really going to be able to shift his feet quick enough,” Neville noted. He also added, “I’ve got very little sympathy for players who make that type of challenge,” clearly frustrated by the midfielder’s lack of discipline and costly mistake.

“Gary Neville Slams ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta for Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Loss to Arsenal”

Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lucas Paqueta after the midfielder’s costly penalty giveaway in West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal. Paqueta fouled Bukayo Saka in the penalty area in the 34th minute, allowing Martin Ødegaard to convert from the spot and put the Gunners 3-0 up.

Speaking live on Sky Sports, Neville was brutal in his assessment, calling Paqueta’s challenge a “lazy waft” and adding, “He’s never really going to be able to shift his feet quick enough.” He also made it clear that he had “very little sympathy for players who make that type of challenge,” showing his frustration with the needless foul.

For Julen Lopetegui and West Ham, the last thing they need is players giving away avoidable penalties, especially with the mounting pressure on the manager. While their victory over Newcastle offered some relief, the performance in the first half against Arsenal was far from acceptable. Despite a mini-fightback late in the first 45 minutes, the damage had already been done, with the penalty leaving the Hammers with a steep hill to climb.

“Gary Neville Slams ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta for Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Loss to Arsenal”

Gary Neville sharply criticized Lucas Paqueta after the Brazilian midfielder gave away a penalty in West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal. Paqueta fouled Bukayo Saka in the penalty area in the 34th minute, allowing Martin Ødegaard to convert and put Arsenal 3-0 up just before halftime.

Speaking live on Sky Sports, Neville was scathing, describing Paqueta’s challenge as a “lazy waft” and adding, “He’s never really going to be able to shift his feet quick enough.” He further stated, “I’ve got very little sympathy for players who make that type of challenge,” clearly frustrated by the unnecessary foul.

While Paqueta’s mistake wasn’t the only issue with West Ham’s performance, it certainly didn’t help. The defeat highlighted deeper concerns for Julen Lopetegui’s side, as the team struggled throughout the first half. The penalty compounded their problems, but it was the overall lack of discipline and organisation that left Lopetegui with much to address. Although a mini-fightback late in the first half offered some hope, the damage was done, and the Hammers found themselves in a difficult situation heading into the second half.

“Gary Neville Slams ‘Lazy’ Lucas Paqueta for Costly Penalty in West Ham’s 5-2 Loss to Arsenal”

Gary Neville didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lucas Paqueta after the Brazilian midfielder gave away a penalty in West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat to Arsenal. Paqueta fouled Bukayo Saka in the penalty area in the 34th minute, allowing Martin Ødegaard to convert and put Arsenal 3-0 up just before halftime.

Neville, speaking live on Sky Sports, described the challenge as a “lazy waft,” adding, “He’s never really going to be able to shift his feet quick enough.” He further stated, “I’ve got very little sympathy for players who make that type of challenge,” venting his frustration with the needless foul.

However, Paqueta’s penalty wasn’t the most problematic part of West Ham’s performance, though it certainly didn’t help. Arsenal extended their lead to 5-2 by halftime after Lukasz Fabianski punched Gabriel in the penalty area while trying to claim the ball, resulting in another penalty, which Saka converted.

This sequence of events only added to the mounting pressure on Julen Lopetegui. With such defensive errors and lack of discipline, the Hammers’ performance highlighted serious issues. This is exactly the kind of result Lopetegui doesn’t need as he fights to save his job at the London Stadium. The defeat not only leaves his side in a difficult position in the table but also raises questions about the team’s mental and tactical readiness, something Lopetegui must address swiftly to avoid further damage to his tenure.